Mac Jones is entering his second year as quarterback of the New England Patriots. It’s his leadership and changed physical makeup that have his teammates most excited.

Munich – It was the 15th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, ushering in a new era for the New England Patriots. After countless successes under quarterback superstar Tom Brady, the Pats drafted Mac Jones, the designated successor to “TB12”.

A young playmaker who not only asserted himself comparatively effortlessly against Cam Newton, who was also under contract at the time. The 23-year-old also led his team to the playoffs in his first year.

After the season ended, team owner Robert Kraft commented on his signal caller in March, saying Jones had “respect coming in as a rookie.” In addition, Kraft believes the youngster has “a little more bite than we’ve seen. “

Will Mac Jones be captain of the Patriots?

After the first few weeks of offseason practice, teammates have already seen a lot of bite from Michael McCorkle “Mac” Jones. And it’s not just because he’s had an entire spring to prepare, get more comfortable with the playbook and improve his skills.

Mac Jones has won over coaches and teammates in Foxborough after only a short time. So much so that he could become a team captain in just his second season, according to “ESPN”. Although his teammates have yet to vote, their statements certainly point in that direction.

Were Jones to be elected captain, he would be part of a small but select group of three players to be elected leaders in their second year in the 23-year era of head coach Bill Belichick. Previously, only Jerod Mayo and Devin McCourty achieved this.

Teammates shower quarterback with praise

The admiration of Patriots teammates for the 23-year-old is high either way. “He’s just at a different level now. He’s more comfortable, more confident. He knows what’s going on and the muscle memory is there – OTAs, then camp and the season. He’s just more attuned, more confident in his position,” wide receiver Kendrick Bourne praised on “ESPN”.

He added: “He gets along really well with all the players. I’m proud of him because it’s not easy. Going into his second year after a year like this, it’s going to be a challenge, but he’s a guy who likes challenges, like all of us on the Patriots.”

Enthusiastic about the youngster’s leadership qualities is also newcomer DeVante Parker. “He’s a leader,” the former Dolphins pass receiver praised his quarterback after a practice session, “He’s a young guy, but he’s a vocal leader. That’s what this team needs. And even though I’ve only been here a couple of weeks, I can see that already.”

Veteran cornerback Malcolm Butler added: “He has a great energy on and off the field. His confidence, his demeanor – I love that about him. “

Harmony with the receivers

What receivers like most about the 23-year-old is his detail-oriented preparation. At one of the franchise’s training sessions, for example, US reporters observed Jones running a route himself while his pass receivers watched him intently.

The understanding between quarterback and receivers is getting better and more intimate. As a result, Jones is also becoming less and less bothered about telling his teammates exactly what he has in mind in terms of running routes on the field.

When looking at the massive leap Jones has made in recent months, a second aspect comes into play: his physical changes. In his second year, for example, the playmaker has fully embraced the Patriots’ strength programme and nutrition plan. The resulting results have not escaped Bourne’s notice.

Jones in better shape than ever

“Mac is in the best shape of his life,” the receiver said. “He looks really good, his belly is gone and he’s definitely a total pro now. As a rookie, you don’t know that until you’ve been through it for years. He’s definitely in much better shape than he’s ever been. He’s dominating when it comes to fitness and it’s just great to see that. He’s just going to be able to endure more in the game and go through more.”

This is good news not only for his teammates and the 23-year-old himself, but also for the coaching staff, which has a couple of new additions in Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, among others.

When changes are on the cards, a reliable, fit and confident playmaker is all the more important.